The optimal cancer care pathways (OCPs) describe optimal cancer care. They map the patient journey, aiming to foster an understanding of the whole pathway and its distinct components to promote quality cancer care and patient experiences.
The resources identify specific steps, or critical points along the care pathway and the recommended care at each point.
The Victorian Department of Health and Human services commissioned the Cancer Council Victoria to conduct a review of the Optimal Care Pathways. The pathways have since been endorsed by the National Cancer Expert Review Group (NCERG), Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Australia, and the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC). The OCPs are being implemented nationally.
Clinical OCPs
For general practitioners and primary care staff
To support you, your practice, and your patients, you can refer to:
- Quick reference guides to understand the optimal cancer care for specific tumour types.
- I-PACED (Implementing Pathways for Cancer Early Diagnosis) resources highlight recommendations in the OCPs and provide information about prevention, early detection, initial investigation and referral pathways. These resources were developed with an aim to assist GPs about critical primary care points and the recommended care that should be offered. Refer to the resource cards for:
- Prostate and oesophagogastric I-PACED eLearning modules are based on common patient presentations in general practice and focus on imparting the necessary skills and knowledge to enable GPs to provide current evidence-based care to their patients. These free modules include case studies, tools and resources that highlight recommendations in the OCPs and provide information about prevention, early detection, initial investigation and referral pathways. For access to these modules, go to eLearning modules for general practitioners.
Patient resource: ‘What to expect’ guides
These short guides help patients understand the optimal cancer care that should be provided at each step and can be used to complement the clinical OCPs. Carers, family and friends may also find them helpful.
‘What to expect guides’ are located on an interactive web portal, with downloadable PDFs in English, Plain English and translation into multiple languages.
Visit www.cancerpathways.org.au
Other resources
Review
In 2012 the Department of Health commissioned the Cancer Council Victoria to conduct a review of the Optimal Care Pathways (then known as Patient Management Frameworks).
Review methodology
Governance arrangements
A Project Steering Committee was established in December 2012 to support the planning, implementation and evaluation of the review. Current committee members are outlined below.
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Members
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Title
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Professor Robert Thomas (Chair)
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Chief Cancer Advisor, Department of Health and Human Services; Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne
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Dr Anna Boltong
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Head of Division, Strategy and Support, Cancer Council Victoria
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Ms Julie Callaghan
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System Improvement Program Lead, Cancer Institute NSW
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Mr Barry Curran
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Manager, Cancer Reform, Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health and Human Services
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Mrs Marilyn Dolling
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Consumer representative
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Ms Spiri Galetakis
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Program Manager, Victorian Integrated Cancer Services, Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health and Human Services
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Dr Cameron Hunter
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Respiratory Physician, Wyong Hospital
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Ms Geraldine McDonald
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Director of Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Ms Angela Mellerick
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Nurse Unit Manager, Day Oncology Unit, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre
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A/Professor, Jeremy Millar
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Director, Radiation Oncology, Alfred Health
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Mr John Preston
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Consumer Representative
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Ms Marita Reed
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Program Manager, Quality and Cancer Outcomes, Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health and Human Services
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Ms Katherine Simons
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Program Manager, North East Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service
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Ms Kathryn Whitfield
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Assistant Director, Cancer Strategy and Development, Department of Health and Human Services
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Professor Helen Zorbas
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Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Australia
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For more information regarding the OCPs, or to send feedback, please email optimalcare.pathways@cancervic.org.au